Rotary conveyer for coating machines



MarCh 18,. DQRFF ROTARY CONVEYER, FOR COATING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet l m m m w.

$ 6 2 Russsu$.fl rf March 18, 1947. R s, DOR F 2,417,472

ROTARY CONVEYER FOR COATING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEA'ITOR. fiusseu S. Z70RFF iit March 18, 1947. s, DORFF. I 2,417,472

ROTARY CONVEYER FOR COATING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1944 6 Shets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

fiu ssELLS. Don FF ity "Mai-ch 18, 1947. R. s. DORFF 2,417,472

ROTARY CONVEYER FOR COATING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1944 6 Shgets-Sheet 4 March 18, 1947. R. s. DORFF ROTARY CONVEYER FOR COATING MACHINES Filed June 12 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet-E March 18, 1947. R. s. DORFF ROTARY CQNVEYER FOR COATING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 12, 1944 INVENTOR. Ru ssEu. 5.]0RFF Patented Mar. 18, 1947 ROTARY CONVEYER FOR COATING MACHINES Russell S. Dorfl, East Liverpool, Ohio, assignor to llhe Hall China Company, East Liverpool, Uhio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 12, 1944, Serial No. 539,930

Glaims.

l The subject-matter of the invention is sometimes referred to as a dipping machine, which while adaptable for numerous uses is specifically designed for coating ware, such as pottery, chinaware, and other ceramic articles, with a liquid glaze or similar fluent material. One of the novel Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View in elevation at either the loading station and/or the unloading station, illustrating the duplicate means for features of the machine is its ability to simultaneously coat both the interior and the exterior surfaces of hollow ware, such as teapots, bowls, and other hollow vessels.

The liquid coating is applied to the ware during immersion of the ware in an ample supply of liqu d glaze contained in a preferably stationary tank. after which the coated ware is removed for dry ng.

In carrying out my invention I utilize a multioarrier, rotary conveyer, upon which conveyer are mounted a number of radially arranged units, including a revolvable, combined carrier and holder. for each article of the ware. A feeding or loading station for the conveyer is provided where the articles to be coated are manually deposited or loaded in the carriers, and automatically clamped, or otherwise retained, in fixed position on the carriers. A second station is also provided for co-operation with the rotary conveyer, where the coated ware is automatically released from its fixed position from the carriers, and then manually withdrawn. Intermediate the loading station and the unloading station, an immersion tank is provided, where the circular train of movin articles, with their combined carriers and holders, are successively immersed in the liquid glaze of the tank and simultaneously turned through at least one revolution, i. e. the article is turned upside down and then righted from inverted position as it is conveyed through its bath and out of the tank, as will be explained.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, and a modification thereof. It will be understood however that changes and alterations may be made in the structures of the exemplifying drawings within the scope of my invention without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a conventionalized top plan view of the multi-carrier rotary conveyer with means for activating the revolvable carriers, together with the manual loading station, the manual unloading station, and the intermediate dipping tank, or liquid glaze container.

Figure 2 is also a conventionallzed cross sectional view, with parts in elevation, as indicated at the line 2-2 Figure 1.

clamping the ware on its carrier and for unolamping or releasing the ware; the holder being shown in full lines in released position, and the dotted lines showing the relation of parts when the ware is clamped by a holder to its carrier.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of parts in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the revolvable carrier units with supporting parts in section, showing the ware on the carrier, and its holder released.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail View at the head of a carrier unit, with the holder in fixed or clamped position on the ware.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the glaze tank in vertical section and illustrating the mode of and the means for revolving a carrier unit and its ware to dip or immerse the ware in the liquid glaze; and this view also indicates the mode of and sliding means for supporting the coated ware in inverted position after the bath.

Figure 8 is a detail view in elevation showing the manner of and the sliding means for conveying the inverted, coated ware a suitable distance in order that excess liquid glaze may drip from the interior and exterior of the ware.

. Figure 9 is a detail view of the clamp ring of a holder by means of which the were is clamped to a carrier unit.

Figure 10 is a view in elevation of a carrier unit with a modified form of holder, and a different type of hollow ware; and Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view at line Hl l of Figure 10.

In the assembly drawings Figures 1 and 2 I have shown a, conventional cruciform base frame and an upper supporting frame 2 upon which is mounted a central vertical bearing sleeve 3 for the main vertical drive shaft 4 which is journaled in the sleeve and rotated through suitable transmission gearing. For convenience in illustration I have shown a large pulley 5 on the shaft 4, a suitable drive belt 6, and a smaller drive pulley i, for constant rotation of the vertical shaft, and power is supplied from a suitable motor indicated as 8. through reduction gearing in the gear casing 9.

Upon the main shaft 4 is fixed a hub H] from which radiate horizontal frame bars II and ,diagonal braces I2, and two concentric circular plates or flat rings l3 and M are mounted on top of the radial frame bars. These parts are bolted,

" riveted or welded together to form a rigid rotary z 3 frame or conveyor, which rotates with the shaft as the latter turns in its journal bearing 3.

Upon the rotary conveyor frame are mounted a number of independent, rovolvable, carrier units, here shown as twenty, which units, as a group rotate with the rotary conveyer about its vertical axis. The number of carrier units may be increased or decreased, depending upon the size and shape of the ware, and the size and capacity of the machine; and these duplicate units are also varied in their arrangemenaas indicated by the staggered arrangement and disposition of the radially extending revolvable shafts, by means of which the successively rotating units are independently revolved while moving in a circular path with the rotating conveyor.

Inasmuch as the multi-oarrier units are similar in construction and in the performance of their functions, a detail description of one unit will suffice for all of the units.

Each of the multi-carrier units includesa :radial, horizontally extending .revolvable shaft 15, journaled in bearings and .II fixed to the respective outer and inner annular plates or rings 13 and 14 of the rotary conveyer frame. For 0011- venience in journaling the inner ends of the shafts in their bearings, :the shafts are shown in two lengths; and toincrease the available capacity of the' machine =the outer ends of the shafts are staggered, i. e. one :carrier is :located at a greater distance from the center of the machine than its two adjoining carriers.

As best seen in Figures 5 and 6 an adjustable head 18 having an inner socket-sleeve isslipped over the Outer-end of the shaft and rigidly fastened thereto by a set screw or bolt I9, and a tubular leg 28 of the head has an upright, adjustable, post '2! secured therein by set screw 22. At its lower end this post is provided with a horizontally disposed, forked, carrier-shelf or tray 23 fixed by set screw '24 to the post. This post and tray may be one of an interchangeable set of devices, and various means, as two horizontal, spaced slats 25, -may be employed as part-of the'shelfor tray to support the ware W, here shown as a teapot.

"Thus it-will be apparent that the carrier head may be adjusted laterally-or radially, and the carrierpost may be-adjusted vertically withre lation to the head for the purpose of adapting the carrier to different sizes and shapes of the ware tobe coated.

'In combination with each carrier unit I employ an adjustable holder for'clampi-ng the ware to its seat and thereby prevent dislodgement or displacement of the ware as it proceeds through the steps of coating. For this purpose a radially projecting arm 26 is extended from the carrier head and the arm, at its outer free end 'is fashioned with a vertically disposed'slide bearing head 2'], in which a clamp rod 28'is adapted to slide or reciprocate. At the lower end of the rod a frustoconical, adjustable, and interchangeable clamp ring 29 is mounted by its collar 30 '(Fig. 9) and the ring is fixed on the rod by means of a set screw 3 I.

The clamp ring is an open structure that is centered over the carrier seat, and the exterior periphery of the ring, as seen best in Figure 6, is'adapted to fitlin the flanged mouth of the ware. The shape and size of the clamping device may be varied, but as here shown, the ring is circularto fit into the mouth of-a teapotnvhichis usuallyoccupied by the lid of'theteapot.

The holder is automatically clamped to the upon its carrier at the loading station A, and the coated were is manuallyremoved :from its carrier at'the diametrically arranged unloading or discharge station E. The holder is automatically held in operative or clamping position by the spring 32; and the clamp ring 2% is automatically lifted, against tension of the spring, first to permit deposit of the ware upon its carrier, and secondly, to permit the coated were to be removed from its carrier.

For this automatic lifting or release of the clamp ring of the holder,. I journal a roller 35 in the bearing head 36 mounted at the upper end of the clamp rod 28, above the bearing head 21. One of these rollers is provided for each carrier unit, and because of the difference in length of adjoining shafts i5, adjoinin rollersare spaced at alternatingdistances from the center of the machine.

.At the loading station :two adjoining rollers ride over two cam tracks 3.? and 38, and at the unloading station the rollersride up, and then down,

on the uppercam faces of concentric tracks 39, and 40. Ifhe four tracks are mounted on exterior frames 4!, out of the path of other moving parts of the machine, but in the paths of two adjoining rollers.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, as the roller rides up one cam surface of the track the clamp ring is lifted to permit loading and/or unloading of the ware; as the roller rides down the second cam surface of the track at the loading station A the previously deposited ware is clamped by the holder. At the unloading station B, after theclamp ring is -lifted to release the coatedware, the second cam actionpermits the clamp ring to be lowered by its springto clamping position, and'the empty carrier reaches the station A for deposit of another non-coated article.

At a suitable point intermediate the loading station A and the unloadin station E, as indicated'in Figure '1, adipping or immersion tank '42 islocated in positionexterior cfthe rotatin conv-eyer for immersion or submerging of successive carriers and their wares, and the wares, as teapots, are simultaneously revolved through oneor more complete revolutions with the shafts it of the carrier units-as indicated in Figure 7.

Tocause one or more immersions of the teapot in the liquid glaze of the :tank, each shaft I5 is providedwith a=wheel 33 fixedto revolve Withthe V shaftas the latter is conveyed in an arcuate path by the rotating conveyor. As here indicated all of .the wheels'are spaced equidistant from the central axis of the rotatingconveyer, in an annular series just beyondthe outer periphery of the anpillar frame plate or ring it. "I'hesucceeding wheels roll over-thetread portion of a concentric, arcuate or segmental track-rail M of predetermined length with relation to the diameter or circumference of the-wheel, and the track-rail is supported just abovethe glazing tank as shown.

In Figure '7 in full lines, a carrier-unit and its" dotted ware are immersed in the liquid glaze of the tank, and by dottedlines four otherposit-ions of the teapot are symbolized-to show one revolution of the shaft, carrier,-and ware, as the latter is immersed for coating both its interior and ex-,

terior surfaces. Repeated immersions of the teapot may be made if desired, Joy-varying the length of the track, the diameter of the wheels, and the dimensions of the tank.

The teapot is rigidly clamped on its carrier, and the open clamp ring permits free access of the liquid glaze to the interior of the hollow ware. As the coated revolving teapot emerges from its bath and rises toward inverted position of the third (from the left) symbol, excess liquid glaze drains from the interior and exterior surfaces of the teapot as it swings clear of the rear end of the tank, andeventually turns to the pendent position.

However, in some instances, to prolong this draining period as indicated in Figure 8, the symbol at the right is being supported above the nonrevolving carrier in upright and inverted position, and the inverted teapotis being drained of excess glazing liquid. To sustain the inverted teapot for draining I utilize a slide shoe 45 that is fixed by set screw 46 to the shaft !5 adjacent the outer side of the wheel 43. The slide face of the shoe is disposed in a plane at right angles to or perpendicular to the axial plane of the shaft l5, so that as the wheel 43 leaves its track All in the first dotted symbol at the left, the shoe rides up on the near rounded end 47 of a, track rail 48 that is supported in the circular path of the slide shoe on a suitable frame as 49.

The track rail is concentric with the center of the rotating conveyer, of arcuate or segmental shape and of sufficient length to sustain the inverted teapot for an ample draining period, and at the distal end of the track the slide-shoe leaves the track riding downwardly over the rounded end 58. The carrier unit is thus freed to swing, as indicated by the symbol at the right, to pendent position.

With the continued rotation of the conveyer the non-revolving carrier and its coated ware travel toward the unloading station B. At this station the small rollers 35 of adjoining shafts or carriers ride over the two parallel concentric tracks 39 and 40 to release the clamps from two teapots. and these teapots are then manually removed as described, for drying.

The empty, non-revolving carriers, with their holders held down by the springs 32, follow the circular path back to the loading station A, where the holders are again automatically lifted to receive the manually deposited, additional, uncoated Ware.

Thus, with the rotary conveyer constantly turning, the uncoated ware is successively placed upon the carrier units, the ware is immersed, the excess liquid glaze is drained from the Ware, and the coated ware is finally removed or withdrawn from succeeding carriers.

While I have referred to pottery, chinaware, ceramic ware, and hollow ware as the articles to be coated, it will be understood of course that the functions of the machine are not limited to treatment of these articles; but on the other hand by variations, interchange of parts, and adjustments, the machine may be adapted for immers ing various other types of articles or ware.

In the modified form of the invention of Figures and 11 I have illustrated a scissors type of holder in combination with a carrier unit for use with hollow ware of the character indicated by the bowl or jar 5|. As here shown a stationary arm 52 is affixed in suitable manner to the carrier head, and a complementary crossed, movable arm 53 is pivoted or hinged to the fixed arm at 5 3. A separator spring 55 is interposed between and anchored to the upper ends of the respective arms and the spring tends to spread apart the upper ends of the arms. The lower ends of the hinged or pivoted arms are fashioned with duplicate sleeves or bushings 56, forming sockets that receive adjustable pins 51, and the pins are fixed in adjusted position by screws 58. The pins are provided with forks or clamp jaws 59'haVing pointed ends that impinge against the interior face of the hollow ware.

It will be obvious that the spreader spring holds the jaws or prongs in close engagement with the interior face of the hollow ware as the carrier unit progresses through its various movements. At the loading station A, and also at the unloading station B,the upper ends of the arms may be brought together manually with the hand grasping a handle fill of the movable arm, that is, the pivoted arm is pushed toward the fixed arm against the expanded spring, thus releasing the prongs or jaws from the ware.

Other variations may be made in the exemplifying disclosures for adapting the machine for immersing articles or ware having dissimilar characteristics. However, the invention resides in the apparatus for conveying uncoated ware in a circular path to a liquid bath, revolving the traveling ware and simultaneously turning it through at least one revolution as it is immersed in the bath, and finally drying the coated ware. As a modification of this statement of the invention, the coated ware, after it emerges from its bath and while still traveling in its circula path, or in an otherwise endless path, is, for a predetermined period of time, sustained in position to drain excess coating liquid from its exterior and or interior surfaces.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coating machine, the combination with a rotary conveyer and its operating means, of article holding means including a revolvable shaft journaled on the conveyer and a carrier head rigid with the shaft, a radially extending post rigid with the head and an angularly disposed tray rigid with the post, a holder mounted in the head in a horizontal plane parallel with that of the tray, and resilient means co-acting with the head and holder for clamping ware upon the ray.

2. In a coating machine, the combination with a rotary conveyer and its operating means, of article holding means including a revolvable shaft journaled on the conveyer and a carrier head rigid with the shaft, a radially extending adjustable post and means for retaining said post in rigid relation to the head, an angularly disposed tray rigid with the post, a clamp rod slidable in the carrier head in a plane parallel to the post and a holder rigid with the rod for co-action with the tray, a spring interposed between the holder and said head, and means for slidin the post against tension of the spring.

3. In a coating machine, the combination with article holding means including a revolvable shaft, a carrier head rigid with the shaft, and a slide bearing on the head, of a'supporting post depending from the head and a tray on the post, a push-rod vertically alined above the tray at right angles thereto and slidable in said bearing in a plane parallel to the post, a clamp member rigid with the rod and adapted to hold ware on the tray, a spring retaining the clamp member in engagement with the ware, and automatically operating means for disengaging the clamp member from the ware.

4. In a coating unit, the combination with-rotary conveyer :and a revolvable article holding means includingashaft and a slide-bearing-head on thevshaft, and a tray rigidly supported onsaid head, of a push-rod reciprocable in said bearing head, 'a clamp-ringon the rod for co-action with the tray inre'taining ware, a-spring for holding the clamp ring inengagement with the Ware, and automatically operating means for disengaging the ring from the ware.

5. In a coating machine, the combination with arotary conveyer and a stationary cam track,a revolvable article holding means including a shaft journaled on the conveyerand a slide bearing rigid with the shaft, a push-rod slidable in the bearing, a clamp ring rigid with the push rod and a spring interposed between said ring and bearing, a supporting tray below the push rod, and'a roller having a journal hearing rigid with the headfor co-action with said cam track,-

RUSSELL S. DORFF.

REFERENCES, CITED The following references are of record in the file-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith July 23, I940 

